B's ready for Rangers rematch

The Bruins were able to shake off their worst loss in almost four years with a strong effort Saturday. They almost lost the game, but wound up getting the two points and hoping to take that momentum into Tuesday night's game against the Rangers.

"It is what you make of it. It's our job to build off of this," goalie Tim Thomas said after the B's tied the game with a power-play goal with 67 seconds left before pulling out a 4-3 decision over the Predators in a shootout. "I think we played a much better game, and we found a way to win again.

"That's what we've, over the past two years, that's what we've been really good at."

Now, the Rangers come to town for the second matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference in less than a month. The Bruins finished play Saturday five points behind New York and know they can't move into first with a win in this game, but the importance of the meeting is clear.

The Rangers scored a 3-2 overtime win in Boston Jan. 21, the first of four meetings between the old rivals on the season.

"I'm looking forward to it," coach Claude Julien said of the rematch. "I liked the game we played them last time, and even though we lost, it was a heavy game, two teams that are hard to play against, and that's what we need right now."

With Thomas pulled, Milan Lucic backhanded a rebound of a Johnny Boychuk shot that was wide, hit the boards and caromed right back out in front.

Thomas was then unscathed in two shootout shots (one hit the post) and both right wing Tyler Seguin and center Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins.

Bergeron (shorthanded) and left wing Daniel Paille also scored for the Bruins, who outshot the Preds 41-22 and held a clear advantage in the play through most of the game.

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